The arrest of a suspect charged with stealing copper wire from an irrigation system in Pike County, Ala., resulted in charges against five more individuals on theft and drug-related charges.

Thieves vandalized an irrigation system owned by Michael Sanders of Goshen, an Alfa policyholder, in September.

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said a $10,000 reward offered by Alfa Insurance for information leading to a conviction in the case generated interest.

“The reward money got the attention of the media, and that got a lot of folks talking about it,” Thomas said during a press conference where he announced the arrests. “Once that got the ball rolling, we tied the suspects to several other burglaries.”

Thomas said the thieves stole to support their drug habits.

Damage to Sanders’ irrigation system is estimated between $15,000-$20,000. Thomas said the wire brought about $780 when sold as scrap.

Michael Eugene Allen, 44, of Goshen was charged in connection with the copper wire theft at Sanders’ farm. He also faces theft and burglary charges from another case on Connell Road where two rolls of copper wire were taken from a Goshen residence.

Thomas said Allen confessed to the crimes.

The arrests were a result of a multi-agency effort by the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Troy Police Department, Alabama Agriculture and Rural Crimes Unit, 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office and sheriffs’ offices in Coffee and Crenshaw counties.

“It feels good to know they were caught,” Sanders said. “I hope everybody who has been part of it…. gets the maximum sentence.”